Hogwarts: The Exemplary Wizard I Am Chapter 702: Goblet of Eternal Fire - Novel Cool

Chapter 702: Goblet of Eternal Fire

Chapter 702: Goblet of Eternal Fire

After a brief rest, Kyle and Cedric resumed their task of searching for Dementors, which would be their primary mission for the foreseeable future.

Although Fudge felt that this task could be left to more experienced Aurors, he didn't object due to Kyle's insistence.

As for Kyle's suggestion of offering rewards to incentivize more witches and wizards to join the hunt for Dementors, it was rejected.

Fudge, of course, wanted to resolve the Dementor issue as soon as possible, and the Muggle Prime Minister had also emphasized the importance of this matter during their last meeting.

Kyle's approach would undoubtedly be helpful, but it would require a significant amount of money.

With the return of the mysterious person, Fudge had been receiving daily reports requesting galleons, and he simply didn't have any spare funds.

This was also the reason he agreed to let Kyle deal with the Dementors; in their current situation, even one additional person would be of help.

...

On the other hand, Kyle didn't rush to search for Dementors after leaving the Ministry. Instead, he first paid a visit to Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place.

"Kyle? Dear, what brings you here?" Mrs. Weasley said happily as she opened the door. "Have you eaten breakfast? Would you like some sandwiches?"

"I'll have two," Kyle replied with a smile.

"You can have more if you'd like," Mrs. Weasley said as she led Kyle to the kitchen and offered him a large plate of corned beef sandwiches.

"Where are Fred and George?" Kyle asked between bites.

"They didn't come back yesterday," Mrs. Weasley said. "There were too many customers at the shop, and they had to keep making those anti-Dementor necklaces... What about you? Why do you have time to come here today? Do you have a break?"

"Of course not," Kyle said as he picked up his second sandwich. "I came here to see if Professor Dumbledore is around."

"Dumbledore?" Mrs. Weasley asked. "He hasn't been here since he brought Harry over."

"Oh..." Kyle said, sounding a bit disappointed.

"What did you want to see Dumbledore about?" she asked.

"I wanted to ask him if he had any Goblet of Eternal Fire," Kyle said, stuffing the second corned beef sandwich into his mouth and finishing another glass of pumpkin juice.

Upon learning that Dumbledore wasn't there, Kyle prepared to leave.

However, at that moment, Sirius and Lupin happened to walk in from outside.

They looked utterly exhausted, as if they hadn't slept in days.

"Those werewolves are really dangerous..." Sirius complained. "In my opinion, Remus, they will never stand with us, so don't waste your energy."

"No, we've made some progress," Lupin said. "At least we've won over two dozen werewolves."

"That's only because the other werewolves look down on them," Sirius said.

The werewolves that Lupin had befriended were either physically weak or old, with only a few teeth left, and they had absolutely no combat power. It was a waste of time to try and convince them.

But Lupin didn't see it that way.

"This is just the beginning..." he said patiently. "And recently, I've been in contact with a group of werewolves hiding in Diagon Alley. They've been oppressed for their refusal to join Fenrir Greyback, and I think this is a good opportunity."

"I dare not trust other werewolves as much as I trust you, Remus," Sirius muttered.

However, he knew he couldn't persuade Lupin, so he dropped the subject and turned to Kyle, who had just finished his sandwiches.

"Long time no see, Kyle," Sirius greeted him. "I think I heard you mention something about looking for a Goblet of Fire. What's that about?"

"It's the Goblet of Eternal Fire," Lupin corrected him. "It's an everlasting magical flame and a top-tier alchemical artifact. It's extremely rare... Kyle, why do you need it?"

"To deal with Dementors," Kyle replied honestly. "Aside from Patronuses, magical flames are also their bane, but casting the Fire-Making Spell constantly is exhausting."

At the mention of the Fire-Making Spell, Mrs. Weasley shuddered and said, "Kyle, you're not even an adult yet. You shouldn't be using such dangerous Dark Magic."

"I know," Kyle said. "That's why I wanted to ask Professor Dumbledore if he had any Goblet of Eternal Fire."

"As far as I know, he should have one," Lupin thought for a moment. "One of the gifts Hagrid brought to the giants was a Goblet of Eternal Fire. For such a rare alchemical creation, even Dumbledore is unlikely to have a second one."

"What? You gave it to the giants?" Kyle was dismayed.

He vaguely remembered that some time ago, when he was chatting with Hagrid, the gamekeeper had mentioned that before visiting the giant tribe, Dumbledore had given him some items as gifts, but Kyle didn't know what they were, and Hagrid hadn't elaborated.

He never expected it to be the Goblet of Eternal Fire.

Kyle felt a pang of regret.

What a waste! Giving such a valuable item to the giants... Would they even know how to use it?

Kyle sighed and stood up, ready to leave. Just as Lupin had said, it was unlikely that Dumbledore had another such artifact.

"Wait a moment..." Sirius suddenly spoke up. "I don't know if it's the Goblet of Eternal Fire you're looking for, but if it's an everlasting magical flame you seek, I know where to find one."

"You do?" Kyle looked at him in surprise.

"Follow me," Sirius said without explaining further. He turned and walked out of the house. "Let's hurry. The sooner we go, the sooner we can get back. I'm exhausted..."

Kyle quickly followed him.

...

Five minutes later, the two arrived at Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Diagon Alley.

"Welcome, Mr. Black."

"Don't bother with the formalities." Sirius waved his hand impatiently. "If there's no problem, then take us there quickly."

"As you wish..."

Another goblin stepped forward and led them to the familiar passageway.

"You'd better be prepared, Kyle. This won't be a pleasant journey." Sirius reluctantly sat down on the cart. "I really don't understand why Gringotts can't just let us access the underground vaults with a key."

"A key alone isn't secure enough," said the goblin who had brought them there.

Once Kyle was seated as well, the cart took off at a rapid pace, passing through the areas with the real waterfall and fire-breathing dragon, and then continuing on for a long distance.

The number of vault doors on either side decreased, the light grew dimmer, and after what felt like an eternity, just as Sirius was about to be sick, the cart finally came to a stop.

Before them was a single vault door.

The goblin who had led them there stepped forward, unlocked the vault with the key, and performed a series of intricate maneuvers.

In that instant when the vault door opened, the dim passageway seemed to be bathed in gold.

Kyle couldn't even begin to count the number of galleons piled up inside, along with colorful gemstones and ornate armor and swords strewn about like garbage.

Sirius walked in, casually kicking aside a mirror encrusted with jewels. His gaze passed over the mountains of galleons and finally landed on a torch at the top of the vault, which served as a source of illumination.

The flame was small but steady...

Kyle immediately recognized it as the Goblet of Eternal Fire he had been seeking.

Ever since he had arrived in Diagon Alley, he had suspected that it might be in the Black family vault.

The Goblet of Eternal Fire was a highly unique magical flame. Whether submerged in water, on a snowy mountaintop, or within a completely sealed vault, it would never extinguish. It was the perfect symbol of status for an ancient pure-blood family like the Blacks.

"Is this what you were looking for?" Sirius asked.

"Yes," Kyle nodded. "It's indeed the Goblet of Eternal Fire."

"Take it then..." Sirius waved his wand, preparing to remove it from its place.

As there seemed to be a Permanent Sticking Charm on the torch, preventing it from being moved, he even considered destroying the wall of the vault, unconcerned about the subsequent security issues.

Of course, the Gringotts vaults were not so easily damaged by magic.

Finally, the accompanying goblin stepped in, his face grim, and snapped his fingers, helping Sirius remove the torch.

"I'll return it to you once we deal with the Dementors," Kyle said.

"You must be joking!" Sirius immediately became unhappy. "I never take back what I give away, especially not for dealing with Dementors...

"I was tortured by Dementors for twelve years. I've wanted to get rid of them for a long time... Unfortunately, I have other matters to attend to."

"Consider it yours!" He waved his hand grandly. "Also, feel free to take anything else you want from here... Oh, except for the deed to the Black family mansion. That place is still useful."

The Black family mansion was none other than Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place, but with a goblin present, he couldn't reveal the exact address.

"No need, the Goblet of Eternal Fire is enough..." Kyle scanned the mountains of gold around him, paused as if he had just thought of something, and then asked, "Sirius, do you really want to deal with the Dementors?"

"More than anything," Sirius said without hesitation.

This was undoubtedly true; anyone who had been to Azkaban would feel the same way about wanting to eradicate Dementors.

"I have an idea..." Kyle lowered his voice and explained his previous suggestion about offering a bounty for hunting Dementors. "The only problem now is that the Ministry lacks funds. If someone is willing to donate, I'm sure Fudge won't refuse, and you can boost your reputation at the same time."

"Galleons aren't an issue..." Sirius pondered for a moment, not immediately agreeing. Instead, he asked, "But have you considered what would happen if those hunting the Dementors couldn't extinguish the Fiery Curse? If we let that curse continue to exist, it could be a far greater threat than the Dementors."

"Rest assured, if they plan to change the bounty, they'll have to find a way to extinguish the curse," Kyle said as he took out a bottle and shook it.

"What's that?" Sirius asked, puzzled.

"It's the ashes left by the Dementors, and proof of their demise," Kyle explained. "Only by bringing this can they claim the bounty in galleons. If they don't extinguish the curse, they won't be able to get their reward.

"Moreover, I've already inquired, and the Auror Office has magic items specifically for detecting the curse. Once the curse grows to a certain extent, it will set off an alarm and reveal its precise location."

"In addition, the Dementors' hoods can also serve as proof. Both these items carry the same chilling aura as the Dementors themselves, making them virtually impossible for ordinary wizards to replicate."

"In that case..." Sirius didn't hesitate any longer. "I'll contribute three thousand... no, five thousand galleons."

...

Once they had gathered what they needed, they rode the cart back to Gringotts.

Sirius, preoccupied with other matters, didn't complain about the uncomfortable mode of transportation this time.

It wasn't until they left Gringotts that he asked, "Do you think this will really help Remus?

"Then it's simple."

Leaving Diagon Alley, the pair returned to the Ministry of Magic and located Fudge once more.

"Are you willing to make a donation to the Ministry?" Fudge asked, perking up immediately upon hearing their intentions. "It's been so long since I've heard such wonderful news, not since Malfoy suddenly disappeared."

"Of course, Minister," Sirius said stiffly. "I know better than anyone how dangerous Dementors are, and I'm more than willing to contribute."

"Please, take a seat, Mr. Black." Fudge said happily. "The Ministry will certainly not forget your contribution."

"It's the least I could do..." Sirius glanced at Kyle.

Kyle shook his head slightly, signaling for him to remain calm.

The three of them then engaged in conversation.

Fudge had originally had other matters to attend to, but now, nothing was more important than this donation of five thousand galleons.

If used well, this large sum of money could help him salvage his image as an incompetent minister.

The discussion centered around the details of the bounty for the Dementors, such as how to prevent hunters from causing collateral damage to buildings or harming Muggles during their pursuit.

Most of the time, Kyle and Fudge were the ones speaking, and they were later joined by Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, and Alastor Moody, who had received Sirius' message.

The buzz of conversation in the Minister's office was constant, and Sirius, unable to get a word in, drank cup after cup of strong tea to stay awake.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he heard a familiar name.

"Speaking of werewolves..." Kyle kicked Sirius under the table, jolting him back to attention.

"I haven't figured out how to address that issue yet," Fudge said. "They stand firmly with the Death Eaters, and unlike Dementors, they read the newspapers, so a bounty won't work on them."

"Yes, werewolves are indeed a big problem." Fudge rubbed his forehead.

"However..." Kyle interjected, "I know someone who has been tirelessly working to resolve the werewolf issue and asks for nothing in return."

"Who?" Fudge asked, intrigued.

"Remus Lupin," Kyle replied.

"Lupin..."

Fudge thought for a moment. "I remember him; he was the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts a few years back... I believe he was the only werewolf to graduate from Hogwarts in the last three centuries, and if I recall, he was also quite close with Mr. Black here."

Though Fudge had no interaction with Lupin, he quickly recalled the man's identity and provided a detailed description.

Indeed, his position as Minister was not solely due to luck.

"That's right, we are friends," Sirius confirmed.

Kyle kicked Sirius under the table again, prompting him to add, "We were just running around in the Forbidden Forest the other day because of the werewolf issue. He hasn't slept for several days."

"You must be exhausted..."

Fudge glanced at Sirius and paused for a moment before continuing, "I heard he was the most popular Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. If it weren't for his werewolf identity, he might have been the first professor to serve consecutive terms teaching that subject."

"You said it," Sirius sighed. "His werewolf identity holds him back at every turn. Sometimes I really wish there was something I could do for him."

"How were his grades?" Fudge asked suddenly.

"He was a prefect," Sirius replied. "He graduated with ten certificates."

"Impressive grades, indeed." Fudge turned to the Auror Office Director. "Rufus, I recall you mentioning that you were short-staffed. What do you think of him?"

"Remus Lupin?" Scrimgeour frowned. Hadn't they been discussing the issue of Dementors? Why had the topic suddenly shifted?

"But he's a werewolf..." Scrimgeour added.

"I don't think that should be an issue," Fudge shook his head. "Being a werewolf isn't something he can control, but he's still willing to help us, and that's enough.

"Moreover, he fully meets the requirements to become an Auror, doesn't he?"

"But..." Scrimgeour hesitated. "Having a werewolf as an Auror is unprecedented."

"That's because you have a bias against werewolves," Moody interjected gruffly.

"I don't have a bias!" Scrimgeour lowered his voice. "But I have to be responsible for the other Aurors. What if they get bitten?"

"Even if you were bitten, Remus wouldn't," Moody scoffed.

"Don't forget..." Scrimgeour argued, "Werewolves lose all sense of rationality during the full moon."

"Alright, that's enough, no more arguing," Fudge interjected, trying to smooth things over.

"This is a special time," he continued. "We should show more goodwill towards werewolves who want to live normal lives, and let them know that they don't have to join the Death Eaters.

"Remus Lupin is an excellent candidate, Rufus. I think you should seriously consider it."

(End of Chapter)

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